Friday, September 7, 2012

First Firstie Friday, Fall 2012

Hello and welcome, fellow first-years! I hope you have all been enjoying your first term in Hufflepuff. This is my first official term at Hogwarts; last term I played as a NQFY and had so much fun (and finished so many projects!) that I knew I had to come back for more. Over the coming weeks I hope to look more closely at all the projects, games, goal-setting and movie-watching that there is to do around here. Opening up Ravelry and seeing 300 new posts to read can seem awfully intimidating, so every Friday you can look to the Huffleblog for a neat little summary of our house activities. Please feel free to PM on ravelry with any suggestions for articles you would like to see.

But enough wiffling and waffling. Time to get straight to the point, and the point is: Quidditch. We already have the cup...let's hang on to it this year too, why not? Also...



Why not, indeed. You have until the end of the day to turn in the first quidditch challenge of the month, and an extremely helpful one it is too. Who hasn't looked at the 'untagged' folder of their favourites list in despair, or tried to shove a squirming writhing pile of yarn into a basket that is clearly, ahem, a...leetle too small? Take this opportunity to get it over and done with and get organised, people. Remember, not only do you get rid of that niggling little feeling of  'oh-I-should-do-itis' that always lurks in the back of your mind, you also get POINTS! Oh, glorious fake internet points! So do it for Hufflepuff, but do it for yourself too. So go on, organise that favorites list, or stash cupboard, or craft room. Stop dreaming that you are ever going to knit that hideous sweater for a special someone you broke up with months ago, and yank that sucker from your queue like an old band-aid. You'll feel better afterwards, and then you can reward yourself with a nice cup of tea, and of course the ubiquitous muffin.



Alas, I can only reward you with fake internet muffins, but I can give you various links that might be helpful if quidditch confuses you. The instructions for the first challenge can be found here, and it also includes tutorials on how to take and post screenshots. In case you haven't already guessed it involves organising your stash, project page, craft room, favourites or queue. Here is a list of all the challenges for this term, and this is also the thread you post in in order to turn in your quidditch (for instructions on how to turn in quidditch, go here).  If you have any questions, or just want to boast about the number of things you culled from your favourites list, we have our very own Hufflepuff quidditch thread here.

Let's go Hufflepuff ... rah rah rah! I'm not good ... at writing cheers!

Personal failings aside, I hope you enjoyed my mini-tour, and feel motivated enough to turn in your quidditch. Ravenclaw and Slytherin are ahead of us in the rankings, but not by much: it's anyone's game at this point!

Tune in next week for another firstie Friday...I look forward to exploring the castle together with you :)

-burningpopsicles

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Let's play

Two shiny new threads have opened since last week's activities report --

Badger Games

Hosted by Pollywoggers, the game thread offers a new game every week or so. Currently we're playing "last letter first, yarn edition." Take the word in the last post and use the last letter of it as the first letter of the word you post. In our version, the words need to be related to the fiber arts. Drop by and play along! Something new will be along soon, too.


Give and Take

If you have yarn, tools, crafting supplies, etc., that you'd like to send on to someone who would love them, this is the place. Likewise, if you're looking for sock yarn minis, some fiber to try out with your new spindle, etc., post a note here. Last term yarn, patterns, craft kits, and more were happily given away to new owners. We even had some services on offer, including a pair of socks knitted. If you have just organized your stash for Quidditch and would like to free up some space for the new and shiny, post some pictures of what you're ready to let go and we'll find it a new home.

As always, leave a comment or send me a PM on Ravelry if you have feedback or questions about Hufflepuff Activities.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Extracurricular Activities: Get Involved!

Welcome to another fantastic term in The Den!

Being the Activities Prefect reminds me a lot of Julie's job on that classic TV show of the 1970s, The Love Boat. Please forgive me if I direct you to the Fiesta Deck or the Promenade Deck instead of the Puff dorm rooms this term.

Classes and advanced studies are only part of the fun at Hogwarts. As a proud member of Hufflepuff House, you are invited to join in the following extracurricular activities.

Fall into Hufflecleaning 2012

For motivation on cleaning/decluttering/organizing goals of any size, check in with the Hufflecleaners for ideas and encouragement. Chellbelle has given us a list of helpful links at the top of the thread, too, including a Declutter Calendar. Check out the first post for badge options!

The Huffletheatre

Theresmiling is our movie hostess and she's selected Midnight in Paris for the first movie weekend, September 7-9. Check it out on imdb.com and see if you can locate a copy in time to chat about it next weekend. Please feel free to talk about whatever else you're watching, movies or TV, anytime.

HuffleLibrary

Whether you like your books with paper pages, backlit on computer devices, or read to you by someone with a lovely voice, we would love to hear from you in the Library. This term our "read-along" is focusing on the Harry Potter series so pick up the volume of your choice -- or the audiobooks -- and let's talk! We'll be doing a special craft-along during the term in cooperation with the Hufflepuff HECK thread, so stay tuned for more about that.

Spin a Yarn / Tangled Webs We Weave

Spinners and weavers are invited to pull up a chair in this thread and chat about latest projects, resources, goals, etc. All levels of experience are welcome! We love pretty pictures of fiber, spindles, wheels, spun yarn, looms, projects made out of handspun, so don't hesitate to show off your stuff. Kazpatch and yours truly, Marushka, provide virtual hand-holding and applause, as needed.


Hufflepuff Health & Fitness

You don't have to be a jock to hang out with us in the Hufflepuff Gym! If you’re looking to set goals -- and get support & encouragement -- related to health, fitness, nutrition, etc., this is the place. Let us know if you want to get the weekly earburn reminder (on Sundays) to check in on your progress and/or to set a goal for the week ahead.

Give and Take

This is our wish list and giveaway thread. Clean out the unloved or unused supplies or tools from your craft area and post them here -- for a little postage, you'll make someone's day. Last term we had services as well as supplies being offered and accepted, including handmade socks and custom spinning. We haven't opened the Fall thread yet, but I'll let you know when we do.

Hufflepuff Games

Stay tuned for a shiny new games thread for the Fall term.

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Activities updates here on the blog every Thursday. Please let me know if you have comments or suggestions, either here on the blog or via PM on Ravelry to Marushka.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Quiddyllenics Video 2, Huzzah Hufflepuff

Huzzah Hufflepuff!

We have another video for the Quidditch Games!

Here for your viewing pleasure is WindDreamer88's Quiddyllenics video!
 
Enjoy the creativity of our Quidditch Archivists!


Lights, Cameras, ACTION!

Hello fellow 'Puffs!

Here are the other two promised Quidditch videos for your viewing pleasure!

First the Tea Cozy Time Trials!



And, last, but hardly least, the Ravellenic Games!!!!!!!!!






Saturday, August 18, 2012

Quidditch: Mini Socks and More!!

Hello Fellow Hufflepuffs!

I know that you have been waiting for the presentation from Quidditch from our Archivists, winddreamer88 and myself!

Here are the Mini Socks video respresentations, and the House Colors video will follow after if I can get the formatting gremlins to work for me. ;) And, they did, yay!

Enjoy!



Friday, August 17, 2012

Sorting Application Up!

It's that time of year again!

The Sorting Form has gone live!

Don't fret! Don't get wet!

Jump through the link,

And, get into a House!